Beckham’s return is no guarantee of a start at the Rogers Centre

Toronto FC’s marketing department will no doubt be enthused over the news that David Beckham looks to extend his stay with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Now, the March 7 first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals, to be held at the Rogers Centre, has another bit of sizzle that can be used to sell tickets outside of TFC’s hardcore fan base.

It will be the Galaxy and the Reds’ first competitive game of the season, but there will be some interesting points to ponder. First, Beckham has a history of skipping games on artificial turf — and the game at the Rogers Centre goes on the fake stuff. Through a series of scheduling woes and nagging injuries, Beckham only made one appearance at BMO Field before the surface was changed to grass — that was the 2008 MLS All-Star Game. The Galaxy has a home opener on the grass three days after the Rogers Centre date, then the second leg against TFC. Basically, three games in a week. Can Beckham’s 36-year-old legs handle them all? Or would it be prudent to rest him for one of those dates?

And we’ll be interested to see what kind of wear-and-tear Landon Donovan, the heart of the Galaxy’s attack, will have on him after he returns from his loan spell with Everton.

Scheduling will also play an interesting role. MLS First Kick is set for March 10, and the Galaxy has a home opener that day. Only one MLS team has a bye week, and it would be unfair if TFC was the one to get the weekend off. If the Galaxy has to play between the two Champions League legs, TFC should also have to play. With two MLS teams squaring off in CCL, MLS needs to ensure the playing field is even in terms of scheduling.

Really, the fairest scenario would have seen the Galaxy open at home March 10. Chivas USA also opens at home that weekend (against Houston on March 11). To keep the playing field between the Galaxy and Reds as even as possible — and to avoid having the teams play each other three times in a row — MLS should have scheduled the Reds to play the Goats.

That would have meant TFC would have gone to Los Angeles at the same time as the Galaxy, even though a week-long stay in L.A. can be tough on a team’s budget. Toronto FC’s home opener is set for March 24.